Best places to live in Essex

[Mum233]

Where are some nice places in Essex to live with primary aged children? Pre Covid we were thinking about moving to the Colchester area and explored around there but interested to hear where else is good? X

Manningtree is nice with lots of pretty villages between manningtree and Colchester. You are inbetween colchester and Ipswich for leisure activities so lots of choice - London and Norwich directly on the train too

If you liked Colchester , does that mean you want to live in a bigger town ?
How about Chelmsford just down the A12, or smaller places like Maldon or Witham . Or close to Essex/ Suffolk border Clare ?
Or Braintree , Great Dunmow ? Tbh you have lots of places , you should decide if you want big town, smaller or a village lifestyle.

More information would help.
Will you need to travel to work?
Village, small town or larger town?
Coastal or inland?

Manningtree or Elmstead/Elmstead Market is nice. Also Wivenhoe. Ive got friends there who love it.
I'd avoid Colchester. Its being built up so much with houses being built everywhere and the roads are struggling to cope. We left Colchester due to work but also because all we did was sit in standstill traffic everyday and weekends were even worse.

I used to live in Leigh in Sea when my children were small. It is a nice place for young children.

I agree with others re Manningtree, bonus of fast train service to a London if needed for work.

Great Bentley and Dedham spring to mind. There are lots of lovely villages surrounding the Colchester area.

Would really need a better idea of whether you’ve got a commute etc.

Maldon and Witham are lovely